LLM by coursework

Please note that the information on this page relates to the LLM degree by coursework and research reports. For information about the LLM research degree (the LLM by dissertation) please see this page.  For information about Postgraduate Diplomas in Law, see this page.

Today's legal practitioners have to develop strong specializations in order to service clients in an increasingly complex business and regulatory environment. The LLM programme at the School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand offers lawyers the ideal way to complement and build on their basic legal qualifications. With a wide range of subjects taught by acknowledged experts, students can create the basis for a world-class specialization that gives them the Wits edge.

For all LLM by coursework degrees students need to take four LLM courses, one attendance course in Research Methodology and complete a 10,000 word Research Report.

Of the four LLM courses, students must take at least two courses at core level and two at non-core level. Students may, of course, choose to do all subjects at core level and none at non-core level. For each core subjects, students must complete a research essay of 5,000 words in addition to the other assessments in the course.

The Law School offers a general LLM by Coursework in which students can choose any combination of subjects and write the Research Report on any topic of their choice. We also offer the LLM in several fields of specialisation, in which case the choice of subjects is narrower and more focused and the Research Report topic relates to the chosen field. The specialised fields are as follows: Communications Law, Corporate Law, Environmental Law, Human Rights Advocacy and Litigation, Intellectual Property and Information LawInternational Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian and Criminal Law, International Law and Development, Labour Law, Pensions Law and Tax Law.

The deadline for 2013 applications is 31 October 2012  (SA students) and 28 September 2012 (international students)

Please note the following:

1. Admissions to the LLM by Coursework and Research Report programme will be very limited in 2012, due to the stringent admission requirements. Students applying for these programmes are strongly advised to apply for Post Graduate Diploma programmes as their second and/or third choice.
2. Numbers in the LLM (Corporate Law) and PG Diploma (Corporate Law) may be capped. Students applying for these programmes are strongly advised to apply for alternative LLM or Post Graduate Diploma programmes as their second and/or third choice.
3. Only students who have been admitted to the LLM (Corporate Law) and PG Diploma (Corporate Law) will be allowed to enroll for Company Law I and Company Law II.
4. The LLM specialization in Tax will not be offered in 2012.
5. Not all the other degrees will be offered in any particular year. Depending on the demand for certain specialized degrees, they may only be offered every second or third year.